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I got this webcam with a mate at a local techie store. It was a factoryr efurb and cost him £5. Not bad we thought, can 't be too terrible for the money we thought. We were right, we thought.... after we got it back to his house. We had to hunt down the drives which was a bit cumbersome as the device itself didn't tell us too much about it's exact model. A little trial and error and hunting on the creative labs website helpded out there though. With the drivers installed we plugged it in and let rip with some quicksharp video conferencing on the LAN using netmeeting. The results for small images (320x240) were as good as any other camera. Where it let itself down a little was at 640x480 resoluton were it tended to look very grainy and pixely. The drivers supplied didn't deal very well with varying light conditions, something which I take for granted with the Philips high-res camera I use. All in all this is worth the money as a refurd or eBay buy. I wouldn't be quite so convinced with the fullr etail price though.

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I bought this webcam a couple of years ago because I was sent a £20 off for anything over £40 spent on, what was then, buy.com. Never thought about buying a webcam before that but I'm glad I did. The package arrived quickly and contained the webcam and some software (windows drivers and photo processing and calendar making applications). The camera has a USB connection for use with all modern PCs. The camera is dark gray, plastic and light. Can be placed on a standard monitor, or a table but I don't think it would stand on thin LCD monitor. The front features the CREATIVE logo and, obviously, the lens. The focus for the latter can be adjusted manually by turning it clock-wise or anti-clock-wise, depending on the desired effect. On top of the camera, there is a button which, when pressed, takes a still picture. Lastly, there is a green light showing that the camera is connected. The camera is fairly easy to install as it's plug and play. I have used it on Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Installation on Windows XP was by far the easiest as it didn't require the CD accompanying the camera. You will, however, need that CD to install the camera on Windows 98. The quality of the still pictures are OK, there good compared to some other webcams but nowhere near as good as digital cameras. This is what one would expect from a webcam though. The camera works well with the software provided as well as standard Windows applications such as Netmeeting. There are lots of settings that can be changed (e.g. frame rate, resolution, etc) to improve pictures or video conferencing experience. Compared to newer webcams is the lack of a microphone though. Overall, the camera is good for its price. Cheap, fairly good quality but lacks an integrated microphone. Copyright steveuk 2002

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One has to ask oneself, "should I get a webcam?" before entering the myriad of choices available in the webcam retail arena. I asked myself this question and came up with the answer yes and bought the creativelabs webcam plus. Am I glad I did? Well no not really. The main reason I wish I had not wasted my money is that I rarely use it. That aside this is an easy webcam to install and use, so if you ask yourself should I get a webcam and come up with the answer yes, then this is a good one to get. Why get one? I thought that the idea of being able to send live video of my son to his grandfather in New Zealand was good enough reason. I then justified the decision by arguing with myself that I could use it to store short video clips and photos. As it turned out live broadcast is not easy. You need messenger programmes and these are difficult to persuade others to download. Conferencing necessitates both parties being on their computer at the same time and this is in reality more difficult than it sounds. Well, I had other reasons to get one. Well the quality of photos taken is poor, the studio that you must take them is the area in front of your PC, this is limiting. I simply use my digital camera. The video clips captured usually are of you looking at your computer screen and this is dull and the size of the clips is 1MB at the least so emailing dull clips to your family is usually greeted by the phrase, very clever yes but please don?t do it again. So I use my camcorder, at least the clips are more interesting than me typing. The Creativelabs webcam plus: This is a good webcam though. So if your life is more sorted out than mine and you want a webcam, can I commend to you this model. Installation is easy if you use windows 98, Me or 2000. You install the drivers from the CD, plug the camera in the USB port, reboot and the camera is detected and installed. The capture software enables you to preview what the came ra can actually see, you can click a button and start to capture video or take a photo. There is also a button on the top of the camera that allows you to take a photo without needing to click the button on the screen. For those of you with windows XP life is even easier. Because Creativelabs have not been able to produce any drivers for XP yet, do not, and I repeat do not install anything from the CD. Simply plug in your webcam and XP will find its own generic drivers for you. These are drivers from Omni vision and they work the webcam plus as if it were it's own hardware. Again you can record short video clips, take photos and it interfaces nicely with MSN, Yahoo messenger and netmeeting. If by chance you mistakenly load any drivers off the CD you will have to uninstall them, creative software will not work with XP. When you come to uninstall them you may find that the different pieces of software share the same uninstaller so you may have to reload the various webcam-controlling programmes individually before you can uninstall them. It will work but it is a nuisance. The camera is made from black plastic and is solid to the touch. As most computers are that horrible beige colour, the product probably would look better if it was the same colour. The picture quality is good, at 320x240 and at 640x480. The colours are good, providing you have good lighting in the room. It is a very simple camera to use; the software detects the optimum settings so that you don't have to play around to get the best pictures. There is an adjustable focus on the camera lens so that you are able to take photos either up close or far away. The camera also allows you to leave it in standby and it will automatically capture any movement and record it, useful if you ant to see who is snooping around your computer Another piece of software included in the package, and this works well with XP, is Pixaround. This is a piece of software th at merges several sequential photos and creates a 3d effect clip of the object. This is useful if you want to show off a room for example. Take sequential photos around the walls and you get a clip of the room that gives the viewer the impression of standing in the middle of the room turning around. Gimmicky, useful I suppose for those of you who want to sell your house. You can upload these clips to the web. Cost: around 45 pounds. Back up: from http://www.creative.com/support/ Availability: from all your usual hardware suppliers or from creative.com To sum up: A good little webcam, easy to use and relatively cheap. Remember do not use Creativelabs drivers or webcam controls if you have XP, let XP do it all. But heed my warning, webcams seem like a good idea at the time but in real life their usefulness is limited, for me any way.

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I brought my webcam from buy.com for about £30 6 months ago, which was a complete bargain. Its an excellent device - very easy to install via plug and play USB under Windows 98se and has flawless operation. The automatic light capture feature means it constantly adjusts to changing light levels very admirably always giving a good picture. With a maximum image size of 600x400 at 30fps its great for taking stills (although if you want anything like the quality of a digital camera you?ll be disappointed). Video works great in Microsoft Net meeting as well. The only problem I?ve come across is the supplied codecs to encode video are very old and thus the size of a few second file is in the MBs. However, you can easily download more codecs such as .asf which give much smaller file sizes for approximately the same quality. Thoroughly recommended.

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The Creative Web Cam Go is the first web cam I have ever bought, and I must say that I am very pleased with the result. It is a fantastic camera, built for the ideal consumer in mind – the one who is not a qualified expert in computers and all their mind-boggling jargon. The first thing I noticed about this web cam is how easy it seemed to install it. The box was clearly told me that it was a USB. This is definitely the best type of device to get. I don’t know much, but I know that most devices you must plug in then restart your computer in order for them to work. But USBs are simply plug-in-and-play. And it isn’t hard to mix up the ports in which they’re plugged. The USB plug is a flat rectangle, so its port is a hollow thin rectangle. Once you’ve plugged it in you can start your software and off you go. The camera itself is small and compact. It can sit on almost any type of work surface, including tilted surfaces such as precariously stacked books, thanks to its 4 small but sturdy rubber feet. In this conformation, the camera is bent through a cleverly designed sturdy hinge, a hinge which allows you to move the camera up and down into new positions from which there are no fears of its vision and focus slipping. However, the camera can also be straightened out through its hinge so it can be comfortably held in the hand. In this conformation, it is possible to aim the camera more accurately than you could when it is sat on a desk. However the camera’s connection wire is quite small so you won’t be filming far from the desk! Another good feature about this camera is that the image can be focused through its lens. My one main gripe about this camera is that it is not made clear how you focus the image. It is not made clear in the instructions or anywhere, and had my boyfriend and me thoroughly baffled. The lens rim on the camera is made of a smooth plastic and there was no indication that it shoul d be turned as there was no rubber gripping or similar which would suggest you turns it. Also, the lens was very stiff and hard to turn and I thought I might break it. However, as I had exhausted all other possibilities I concluded this had to be it and persevered and it worked. I would definitely suggest Creative make this a bit clearer or put some rubber round the lens rim. This web cam is clearly advertised as being able to take pictures as well as videos, and there are some additional features added tot his web cam which make taking pictures even easier, and which make this camera stand out from its competitors. The camera has a button on the top left hand side of it, which can be pressed to take a picture just as you would on a normal camera. This is a great accessory that makes taking pictures away from the desktop even easier, as you don’t have to fiddle with the mouse in one hand hovering the cursor over the relevant button. However, tracking the image is more difficult, because there isn’t a window in the camera as you would find in a normal camera. So you’re still at a funny angle looking over your shoulder at the computer screen to make sure you get the picture centred just right. If a little screen were put into the camera, it would make things just a little bit easier. However, I cannot complain. Every now and again I like to sell things on online auctions, namely eBay. To increase chances of getting a sale you need a photo, and up to now taking photos and developing them cost a lot of money and took time. Now taking pictures of the small things I auction from time to time takes no time at all and is completely free. Also, for those I talk to online who want to see my ugly mug I have no excuse, just as I now have no excuse to post a picture on my dooyoo profile … One thing that made this web cam stand out amongst the others in the shop was the amount of software that came with it! Some of the web cams on sale had no software listed on the product packaging at all, whereas the Creative Web Cam Go had a list with a detailed description of what the programs do on the back of their box. At first, I had assumed that where more software was a definite advantage in order to use it, I thought the programs wouldn’t be good quality as so much seemed to be offered for the same price as the other web cams which came with nothing. How wrong could I have been? The software package is excellent and comprehensive allowing you to do a wide range of things with your web cam and really use it to its maximum potential. The software all came on one disk, and after you had chosen what software you wanted to install at the beginning of the installation process, they all installed one after another spontaneously and quickly. The software included was: · Video Blaster Web Cam Control. An accessible, easy to use program ideal for those who have never used a web cam before. This program allows you to take videos and pictures, which are automatically saved and stored in an album on your hard drive but which is also accessible through this program. So you can delete or preview videos and images here too. Settings are simple to set, including frame rates, compression, output sizes, picture outputs (jpegs, bmps etc.) as well as brightness and contrast of the media produced. · Photo Editor – an exciting program which allows you to modify your pictures. This includes removing red eye and scratches or marks from your pictures, and altering contrast of the pictures and sharpening edges. In addition to performing cosmetic surgery to your pictures you can edit them for fun, including tiling, embossing etc etc. The program allows you to incorporate images and videos in fun items such as calendars, posters and video greeting cards, as well as sending them via email directly through the program. Another great program designed for the beginner web cam user, completely simple and easy to use . · Video Blaster Web Cam Monitor – an amazing snoop patrol program. You set it up with your web cam, and it uses a motion detector in order to pick up when someone goes past it or onto the computer. It then videos that person in the act. It’s not so much a burglar alarm, as there are no warning bells or emergency shut-offs to scare off the potential burglar, but it could be used to determine who’s been online during the day or who’s reading your work when you’re away from the desk etc. Dinky idea, however I am yet to seriously use it. · Lava Player – a bizarre digital video player program. I have not figured this one out at all yet but the example videos provided suggest this could be an exciting video player. The programs all install into their own compact Creative folder in the Programs menu, all easily accessible and if you have any problems with any of the software you will be pleased to know that a help file for each program is installed alongside it. The web cam itself is excellent and a joy to own and use. I set the video output on 340x260 – any larger and things start to slow down dramatically – and I get excellent pictures. I have to say the settings are easy to understand on the Video Blaster Web Cam Control, and a little bit of twiddling gets the settings just right. It soon becomes clear as to what works. I find higher outputs for pictures work very well. I use 800 x 600 for pictures, so the pictures are larger. I had originally been daunted by the idea of owning one of these things but this has been an excellent first experience for me. I would recommend this product to anyone, particularly to all who have never owned one before. I got this camera for a very good price and consider it excellent value. However be wary and shop around. I bought this camera from PC World for £49.99, and have seen it since on sale at that price still. Great price! However, yesterday in both Game and Electronics Boutique the same camera was priced at £119.99. When I asked the sales assistant in Game why they were charging this much when I got mine for a mere £50 he tried to get out of it by saying mine was a lower resolution, and that they don’t say it’s lower on the box because the 2 different cameras use the same box. Hmmmm, convenient excuse I thought to myself. I’ll warn everyone on Dooyoo is what I thought, so you’ve been warned. In a friendly way of course!

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This camera DOES NOT work with Athlon processors, despite what Creative tell you on the box ! I happily run a USB CD burner, a USB ADSL modem, USB mouse, etc. on my Athlon 550. Strangely enough, they all work PERFECTLY with my Athlon motherboard. Yet the Creative webcam stutters and freezes almost immediately ! After a week of reinstalling windows, downloading drivers, shifting PCI cards around, etc, I am thoroughly sick and tired of this lousy cam. It is going in the bin. While I'm in 'rant' mode, support from Creative is almost non-existent, it's quite plain they've done no quality assurance on this product, and don't give a damn about their long-suffering customers. For more 'happy' customers, check out http://www.europe.creative.com/joinin/forums/forum.asp?foru=19 I feel thoroughly conned. Creative, you should be ashamed.

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I recently though it was about time that I got a webcam. I stubled across the Videoblaster webcam plus while searching for the cheapest! Whe it arrived I found it really easy to install (less that 5 minutes) with a good selection of software (although I dont understand what the difference is between the Webcam monitor and the control software?????) Good quality, nice design (it sits neatly on the desk) an a long cable in case I want an aerial view. I have a few problems with my TV card software picking up the webcam but that was it! Excellent Value

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I actually got this Camera today for Xmas! So far I have found it excellent. Not only have I taken pictures of my family and friends, I have captured video to email to my Dad, and others. The software included with this lightweight, stylish camera is fantastic. There is artistic software, which allows you to create greetings cards, turn your pictures into clowns, put your friend's into fishbowls etc. Also the Camera is highly motion sensitive. The motion detection software allows you to track anyone that comes into view of your camera, and automatically record them for any length of time you wish. Sometimes, when your viewing the motion detction monitor, the software can be a little slow, but, can be adjusted to make things speed up. Also there is software which allows you to take 360 degree views of a room, or panoramic photos - depending how you use it. In addition to all this, the software allows you to take film, and pictures in screen sizes up to 640x480 pixels. The quality is great, if you are conmsidering it is a webcam, which costs around £50 (I got the USB version - if there is another version.) This Camera is definitly worth a look, if not for the usefullness of it, then certainly for the fun of it!!

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I bought this webcam about a week ago from buy.com. With a £20 off voucher, I got it for around £20. It arrived three or four days later, I installed it and what did I get - Nothing!! My webcam does not work for more than five seconds. Having looked up on the internet it seems that you can have problems using this webcam if you are not using a genuine intel pentium processor and/or if you are running Windows 98 Second Edition. I myself have Win98 SE and an Athlon 550 processor. Unfortunately there was no warning about this bug from Creative. I have looked it up on the internet and have found that many users all over the world have exactly the same problem as I am having. They say that having contacted Creative, they were told that nothing could be done about it - Creative almost deny that such a problem exists. Having e-mailed Creative nearly a week ago, I am still waiting for a response from them - poor Customer Service but that, perhaps, should be the topic of another opinion. I have taken my webcam round to a friends house to make sure that it wasn't just a faulty webcam - it worked perfectly on his Celeron 700 with Windows Millenium Edition. I was very impressed with the quality which I saw on his computer, so if you have a computer which does not have win98 SE and you have an intel processor, I would highly recommend it to you. Although I can't get it to work at the minute, I am not going to give up on it as t seems to be a really good, budget, webcam if it worked. I am going to upgrade to Windows Millenium Edition at Christmas to see if this will rectify the situation - I will update this opinion for the benefit of Dooyoo'ers who may have the same dilemma. I am torn between hating this product as it doesn't work and loving it because when it does work it is very good quality for so little money. ****UPDATE**** I have just heard back from creative labs support. They have give n me a very vague answer consiting of things which I have already tried and know that they don't work. Ah well, the search continues to make my webcam work.

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Opinions are divided on this camera. If you have an AMD processor faster than 300MHz or Windows 98 SE, then stay well clear as it won't work at all. My friend bought one and dicovered this to his disgust! I am lucky and have WindowsME and it's a dream of a camera. The highest resolution it displays is 640x480, and it can capture video at 15 frames per second at this resolution, and at 320x240 it can capture video at 30 frames per second. Installation was a breeze, you install the drivers from the CD, plug the camera in the USB port, reboot and the camera is detected and installed. The capture software enables you to preview what the camera can actually see, you can click a button and start to capture video or take a photo. There is also a button on the top of the camera that allows you to take a photo without needing to click the button on the screen. The picture quality is good, at 320x240 I was very impressed, and at 640x480 the quality is still good, but a little pixelly. The colours are good, providing you have good lighting in the room. It is a very simple camera to use, the software detects the optimum settings so that you don't have to play around to get the best pictures. There is an adjustable focus on the camera lens so that you are able to take photos either up close or far away. The software included is the main video capturing software, a package for editing the photos, security software so it will start recording video if the camera detects motion. It lacks software for uploading to the internet but this is downlaodable from the net. As an entry level webcam, this is very good, and very cheap. It is simple to use, with enough features for me.